Prabhupāda's Ambition to Revolutionize a Godless Civilization

Śrīla Prabhupāda's life was a testament to the power of pure, spiritual ambition. Unlike material ambition, which is rooted in selfishness, his burning desire was to execute the will of the Supreme Lord and his spiritual master for the benefit of all humanity. This article outlines the scope of Śrīla Prabhupāda's vision, from his determination to print books and open centers to his ultimate goal of creating a spiritual revolution that would bring true happiness to the entire world.

A Revolution Against Godless Civilization

Śrīla Prabhupāda did not come to the West simply to start a religion or a sect; he came to change the course of history. He viewed modern civilization as misguided and "godless," leading people toward animalistic degradation. His ambition was to challenge this trajectory and offer a scientific, spiritual alternative that could bring genuine peace.

• My health is not always going on nicely. Still, why I am trying? I want to begin one revolution against godless civilization. That is my ambition.
• It is my ambition, as foretold by Lord Caitanya, that the people of the world will be happy under the banner of Krishna Consciousness, and let us try our best for this greatest philosophy of life.
• That is my ambition, that let the teachings of Bhagavad-gita be practically accepted by the human society, and surely they'll be happy.
• The so-called svami, they will become animal. So that is not wrong. But we devotee, we are not afraid of becoming animal. Our only ambition is that we become Krsna conscious.

Global Expansion and Centers

To execute this revolution, Śrīla Prabhupāda laid out a concrete strategy. He envisioned a global network of centers that would serve as spiritual embassies. His "ambitious program" included 108 centers worldwide, traveling saṅkīrtana parties, and the development of major projects in India like the Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma temple in Vṛndāvana.

• It is my ambition that I want to establish at least 108 centers; beginning from Hamburg, crossing over the Atlantic to your country, USA, then the Pacific, covering Hawaii and reaching to Tokyo, Japan.
• I have got a very ambitious program to organize a nice Sankirtana Party both in Oriental and Occidental style, so that we can thus attract all classes of people in the world to Krishna Consciousness.
• I wish to construct a grand temple of Krishna Balarama and keep many cows in this park. The residents of New Delhi will be very much encouraged to visit this park. That is my ambition.

Primacy of Books

Central to Śrīla Prabhupāda's mission was the publication and distribution of transcendental literature. He often emphasized that while temples might be constructed, the books were the "big mṛdaṅga" that could reach every corner of the earth. His ambition was to flood the world with these literatures to enlighten the population.

• My ambition is to spread these books far and wide all over the world so that everyone shall read at least one of our books and that will change his life. If only 1% become devotees, that will change the world.
• I would always prefer to distribute our books ourselves and publish them ourselves in our own press. That is my ambition, so you try to fulfill this desire of mine.
• Selling or not selling, I want to see these books published. That is my ambition.

Uniting East and West

Śrīla Prabhupāda possessed a unique vision for uniting the spiritual wealth of India with the material resources of the West. He believed that this combination could solve the world's problems. His ambition was to see Americans and Europeans take up the culture of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and assist in reviving the Vedic tradition in India and abroad.

• That is my ambition. Take Indian culture and help with American money. The whole world will be happy.
• Let the whole United States become Vaisnavas, then everyone else in the whole world will follow. That is my real ambition.
• When I return to India my ambition is to construct an American House at Vrindaban and get some of you boys and girls there to train for our preaching work in this part of the world.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda's ambition was expansive yet focused. It was not a personal quest for power but a selfless service to the Supreme Lord. By desiring to spread the holy name, print books, and open centers, he sought to uplift the entire human society. His words remind us that true ambition should be directed toward the highest welfare of others—giving them the gift of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Ambition (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.